Punchline

Origins

Alexis Kaye, a student of Synder College had her first encounter with the Joker while on a class trip at a local TV studio. Joker had seized the studio, forcing Alexis at gunpoint to act as a newsreader and deliver his message to the citizens of Gotham City. Joker's plan was foiled by Batman, and Alexis was saved, but she developed an unhealthy obsession with the Joker. She then came to the conclusion that the Joker's past crimes served a greater purpose.

She then started an online podcast dedicated to the Joker; thoroughly researching all of his past crimes. Inspired by the Joker and his antics she then went on to create her own costume and began poisoning the people of Gotham to attract the Joker's attention. He saw potential in her and taught her how to create a modified form of Joker Venom, which she then used to experiment on the homeless community.

The college's dean grew concerned with Alexis's recent behavior and went to talk to her, and upon doing so he was murdered with her form of Joker Venom, before finally adopting the persona of Punchline; thus successfully proving herself to the Joker.

Major Story Arcs

Road to Joker War

Punchline was appointed by Joker as his new underboss in lieu of his coming war against Batman, after Superman revealed his secret identity to the world, and Joker decided that a final battle with Batman using his secret identity in play would be fun. Punchline's first assignment was to stake-out Catwoman, who had gone to dig a Joker look-alike's corpse after having received a message from the Designer, not knowing it was the body of the Joker's gang member Artie. Punchline informs the Joker about Catwoman and Harley Quinn having found Artie's body, but he states it's okay as he had to meet a few people first.

During Lex Luthor's battle against the Batman Who Laughs, Punchline held Mercy Graves hostage while Joker dealt with Lex for using the help of the Dark Multiverse's Batman, ignoring his warnings. Joker however, let both go, stating it was a joke all along and Lex had got what he needed.

Punchline later encounters Catwoman and Harley Quinn again while working with the Underbroker, and a fight ensues between Punchline and Harley Quinn. Punchline slices Harley's neck and then orders her body to be dumped into the river. She then wounds Catwoman and uses the account numbers Catwoman had stolen to steal the entire Wayne fortune from Batman for the Joker.

Joker War

With Joker having gained control of the Wayne fortune and Underbroker now in control of Wayne Enterprises, Punchline went to capture Lucius Fox, poisoning him to take control of Batman's equipment. When Batman returns to the Batcave, Punchline was there lying in wait; catching him off-guard with the new Batsuit Lucius had designed for him. Punchline mocked him for losing everything and infected him with a hallucinogenic version of the Joker Venom ultimately forcing Batman to flee. Later, Punchline and Underbroker arrive to Tricorner Yards to double-check the arriving shipments of chemicals so they could make a larger batch of her Joker Venom variant. They then learn of a clown-themed vigilante going by the name of Clownhunter, attacking Joker's gang members. She the proceeds to warn Joker of Clownhunter and Batman's continued existence, to which was of no concern to him, telling her to send some of his tougher thugs to take care of Clownhunter before going off to kill Harley Quinn.

Finding Harley Quinn and Batman in Eden, a forest area hidden underneath the City of Gotham that Poison Ivy made for Harley, Punchline then attempts to torch the place, but is thwarted by Harley and a fight between the two ensues. As they fought, Punchline taunted Harley for ever believing she could reach the Joker's heart. When Punchline said the Joker truly loved her for "understanding" him, Harley lashed out, telling her that he's nothing more than a manipulator and she's just his latest victim, and that all he ever cared about was Batman. Furious, Punchline breaks away, ready to kill Batman to prove her point. However, she arrived just as Batman had broken free of her drug thanks to a concoction Harley had given him earlier. Her defeat at Batman's hands was swift.

Powers and Abilities

Punchline is an expert combatant, trained in both short range and long range weaponry, excellent marksman/sniper, capable of acrobatic feats, toxicology, and is skilled with the use of knives. She wields two daggers which she uses with skill. She was able to seriously wound Harley Quinn and injure Catwoman in her first fight against them. She also possesses a modified variant of Joker Venom, which is a blend of Laughing Gas, Bane's Venom and the Scarecrow's Fear Toxin.

Characteristics

• Eyes: Green
• Hair: Black

Status

• Identity: Public Identity
• Citizenship: American
• Marital Status: Single
• Occupation: Podcaster, Criminal, Serial Killer

Video Games

DC Legends

Punchline is a playable character in the mobile game DC Legends.

Merchandise

• Punchline is featured in the Funko Pop! Line

• A Punchline statue designed by Jorge Jimenez was featured in the Museum Masterline Batman line by Prime1Studio.